The Detroit Tigers were arguably the coldest team in the 2025 MLB playoffs by the end of the regular season, but they’re starting to heat up now that the postseason has started.
With rookie Troy Melton on the mound, on the road and facing a favored Seattle Mariners team, the Tigers found a way to take a 1-0 ALDS lead with some extra-inning heroics from Will Vest, Zach McKinstry and Keider Montero.
Now the Tigers have stolen home-field advantage with a 3-2 win over the Mariners in Game 1 of the ALDS on Saturday, Oct. 4 and will have their ace Tarik Skubal on the mound for Game 2 on Sunday, Oct. 5.
Here’s how MLB analysts and Tigers fans reacted to one of the biggest wins of the 2025 season.
Tigers go up 1-0 over Mariners, social media reactions
HOW WE FEELIN’ DETROIT??#BUILTFOROCTOBERpic.twitter.com/pUgUz9ZW6N
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) October 5, 2025
BANGGGG
that was a SICK game.
— Max Clark (@maxxclarkk13) October 5, 2025
Zach McKinstry gives the Tigers the lead in the 11th. Dan Dickerson on the call #RepDetroitpic.twitter.com/vUkNYltl5l
— Dan Dickerson Calls📞 (@dannydHRs) October 5, 2025
That’s one. #BuiltForOctoberpic.twitter.com/eGLj9wRt4X
— Johnny Kane (@Johnny__Kane) October 5, 2025
Huge performance from Keider Montero for the save. Wow. Tigers take Game 1 by a 3-2 score. That is HUGE with Skubal going tomorrow. Way to battle through it all Tigers!
— Bless You Boys (@blessyouboys) October 5, 2025
Lights out at T-Mobile Park! Keider Montero shuts the door! TIGERS WIN!
ARE YOU SERIOUS?! What a game in Seattle tonight! It was Zach McKinstry who got out of a slump with a game winning RBI in the 11th inning!
— Chris Castellani (@Castellani2014) October 5, 2025
TIGERS WIN!! 🐅
One Montero blew the lead, the other closed it out. Carp HR and a clutch RBI single from McKinstry in the 11th.
Bullpen was excellent, offense needs to figure it out. But a W is a W!
— Clay Snowden (@clay_snowden2) October 5, 2025
THE TIGERS
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 5, 2025
If the Tigers win Skubal Day and Lions win vs bengals, this has the potential to be the best Detroit sports weekend in history
— Tigers Torkmoil (@bythewaybro) October 5, 2025
time to PLAY. THE. SONG. 🔊 pic.twitter.com/fjYgJOl4HC
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) October 5, 2025
Oh by the way, he pitches tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/owz4CMWATI
— DataBase Hit (@DatabaseHit) October 5, 2025
You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers ALDS Game 1 win has fans ready for Tarik Skubal Day
